Rully Mallay

Indonesia

Rully Mallay was born in Bone, South Sulawesi, in 1961, into a family of Navy personnel. She spent her formative years in Surabaya, East Java, where she completed her primary and secondary education. Rully openly embraced her identity as a trans woman early in life and was fortunate to receive acceptance from her family. This support allowed her to pursue her studies and graduate as a teacher.

After completing her teacher training, Rully worked as an elementary school teacher in Sumba for 10 years. Her dedication and impact on the community earned her widespread respect, culminating in her election as a member of the Bone Regency Legislative Council in South Sulawesi.

Following her retirement in 1993, Rully relocated to Java, living in Bogor from 1994 to 2003. Since 2004, she has been part of a trans woman community and has dedicated herself to volunteer work. She currently serves as a manager at a Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) shelter, providing crucial support to those in need.